Corfu
Welcome, to the nymph of Ionian, aristocratic gorgeous,
unique Corfu!
General info
Situated in North
West part of Greece
near the Islands of Cefalonia, Lefkada,
Paxos, Ithaki
- Ithaca
and the other Ionian Islands.
Climate – Corfu weather
South European weather, with a lot of sunshine and
lowest humidity.
Sightseeing
Corfu
is full of splendid sights such as Paleokastritsa, Achillion, Kanoni, Sidari,
Glyfada, and many many others.
Beaches
Beaches in Corfu
are all wonderful, such as Glyfada, Arillas, Agios Gordis, Sidari, Dassia,
Kontogialos, Agios Georgios north, Barbati.
Archaeological sights
The world famous Achillion, the Mon-Repos palace and wholeCorfu town.
Corfu nightlife
Corfu
is known for its night life. Apart from the movie theatre, "Orpheus",
which offer family entertainment, the Island
satisfies every taste all year long. Ideal for a first drink is Aktaion Cafe, a
former restaurant recently turned into a bar. Together with "Launch
café", they have changed the flow of the crowds that used to go straight
for ‘’Emporiko’’. After passing the new
port, there is "Remmezzo", where you can have a quiet drink before
heading to "Au" Club. The island's young crowds prefer
"Privilege" and "Crystal
club".
The entertainment is not limited to foreign music bars. "Electron and
Sodoma" is two of the music places which play Greek music. You can dance
all night long at "Crystal" and "Privilege" discos or enjoy
a drink at some other café bar sin the same area.
Town of Corfu
Venetian, glamorous delicate Corfu
town seems to charm all visitors with its own unique style combining perfectly
the class value and the modern life-style. It's really one of a kind!
Corfu holidays Basics
Time: Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 between the last Sunday
in April and the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical
current is 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of plugs are in use including the
European-style two-pin and the round three-pin.
Money: The Euro
(EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureaux de
change are widely available and traveller’s cheques and major credit cards are
widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most
convenient method of obtaining euros.
Language:
Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.
Entry requirements for Americans:
US
citizens require a passport valid for at least three months after the end of
their stay. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months, but a return
ticket and proof of sufficient funds are advisable.
Entry requirements for UK nationals:
UK
nationals require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but a visa
is not required.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals:
Irish
nationals must hold a passport valid for the period of their intended stay, but
no visa is necessary.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals:
New
Zealand citizens
require a passport (must be valid at least 3 months beyond period of intended
stay). No visa is required for a stay of up to 3 months, provided coming for
tourist purposes.
Embassy or Consulate in US:
Greek Embassy, WashingtonDC, United
States: +1 202
939 1300
Embassy or Consulate in UK: Greek
Embassy, London,United Kingdom:
+44 (0)20 7229 3850
US Embassy or Consulate:
United States Embassy, Athens:
+30 210 721 2951
UK Embassy or Consulate:
British Embassy, Athens:
+30 210 727 2600
Getting around: Corfu’s
bus system includes public bus services to Corfu
town and its surrounds, and a semi-private bus system that services points all
over the island. In and around Corfu
town taxis is the easiest way to get around, and are the only means of
transport to the harbour and airport; agree on the fare beforehand. Hiring a
car is the most popular way to get around and there are numerous car rental companies
around the island, but cars may be difficult to come by in high season; it is
best to book with an established international rental company prior to arrival.
Mopeds and motorbikes are easily available for hire.
Health: There are
no specific health risks in Greece,
but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider
vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece
vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some
distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting
for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. UK
nationals are entitled to a refund on emergency hospital treatment under a
reciprocal agreement between the UK
and Greece,
and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be taken on holiday for this
purpose. Despite this, all visitors are advised to take out medical insurance.
Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from
infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece
in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the
outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is
believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with
caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes
are well cooked as a precaution.
Tipping: The tip is
often included in the bill in a restaurant. If not, leave between 10
to 15 percent. For drinks at cafes, round the bill up to the nearest euro.
Taxis expect change as do cloak room attendants and porters.
Safety: There is a
risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks and visitors are urged to be vigilant
in public places, including tourist sites. The bombs that exploded in central Athens
outside a police station on 5
May 2004 were not targeted at tourists, but visitors could be
caught up accidentally in such incidents. Greece
is otherwise considered a safe destination, but the height of the tourist
season does usually see an increase in petty theft cases, particularly in
crowded areas. Visitors are advised not to carry valuables on them. Violent
crime is infrequent, but there have been incidents on some Greek islands and
lone visitors are advised not to accept lifts from strangers.
Communications: The
international access code for Greece
is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
0044 for the United
Kingdom). There
are often surcharges on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use
OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) offices for local and
international calls. Calls can also be made from public card phone booths and
cards can be bought from kiosks or OTE offices. The local mobile phone
operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international
operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are
cheaper than accessing the Internet from hotels.
Duty free: Travellers
from non-EU countries do not pay duty when entering Greece for 200 cigarettes,
or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits with
alcohol volume over 22%, or 2 litres of dessert wine not exceeding 22% alcohol
volume and sparkling wine, or 2 litres of table wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau
de toilette; and other goods for non-commercial value to the value of €175 for
adults and €90 for children under 15 years. Providing goods are bought for
personal use, there are no restrictions on carrying tobacco and alcohol between
the 15 original countries of the EU (including the UK),
with the exception of Finland,Denmark
and Sweden.
